Arsenal suffer blow as Argentina star Cristian Pavon tells Boca Juniors he wants to stay despite Gunners interest
Winger was one of few bright spots at World Cup for Argentina and has been linked to Emirates in £26million deal, with Barcelona also interested
ARSENAL have been handed a major blow in their pursuit of Cristian Pavon after he told his club Boca Juniors he wants to stay with them.
Pavon, 22, has been linked with the Gunners since January and his performances at the World Cup have fuelled rumours of a £26million bid, which would trigger his release clause.
The winger has also reportedly drawn interest from Barcelona, on the recommendation of international teammate Lionel Messi.
But Pavon is now set to stay in his homeland after his agent Fernando Hidalgo quashed the rumours with news of the player's decision.
Hidalgo told : "There is still nothing official from Arsenal.
"Pavon informed Boca's hierarchy about his desire to stay and play in the Copa Libertadores."
Pavon came off the bench in all three of Argentina's World Cup group games as they scraped through to the knockouts, only making the last 16 by virtue of a late Marcos Rojo winner against Nigeria.
In the next round, the winger was handed a surprise start ahead of the likes of Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala, but Argentina fell 4-3 to France.
Pavon joined Boca in 2014 and has won the Argentine title in the last two seasons.
Arsenal are expected to complete a deal for fellow South American World Cup star Lucas Torreira in the coming days, with a £26m move only a medical away from finalisation.
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New Gunners boss Unai Emery is already making a significant impact on the club, two months into his tenure as Arsene Wenger's replacement.
Emery has already snapped up Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free, keeper Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos in his short time in charge.
Mexico's Hirving Lozano and Sevilla hardman Steven N'Zonzi have also been linked as Emery looks to revamp the squad that finished sixth last season, the club's lowest since before Wenger's 22-year reign began.
The Spanish boss also took the bold step of telling fan favourite Jack Wilshere he was surplus to requirements at the club, and the England man is expected to sign a three-year, £15m contract with West Ham in the coming days after being released by Arsenal.
